Theft-preventing device



April 8, 1930. w

H. SCHWARZ E THEFT PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fl. r

April 8, 1930. H. SCHWARZE THEFT PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMAN SCE'WAB-ZE, O1 PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COB- POBATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE THEFT-PREVENTING- DEVICE Application filed August 20, 1927. Serial No. 214,294.

This invention relates to apparatus for assisting in preventing the theft of an automobile and one of its objects is to provide an improved key controlled device for controlling both the secondary and primary circuits of an ignition system.

Another object of the present invention is to ground the center terminal of an ignition distributor head and prevent removal of the head from the ignition timer housing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a form of circuit controller embodying the present invention and includes a wiring diagram, the apparatus being shown in circuit closing position.

Fi 2 is a transverse sectional view of the distributor head and control apparatus in position corresponding to Fig. 1 in which the center contact of the distributor head is disconnected from ground and in which the distributor head may be removed from the timer housing.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the terminal brackets in the primary circuit ignition apparatus looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a View of the same looking in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the distributor head and control mechanism in position for grounding the center terminal of the distributor head and for disconnecting the primary circuit of the ignition system.

Fig. 5' is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5. I

Fi 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing certain devices in position for locking in circuit making position the grounding contact of the secondary circuit.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

trically connected with a button 25 for making contact with an ignition distributor rotor 26 which distributes through its segment 27 sparking impulses to distributor post 28 each connected with a socket lining member 29 and a cable receiving socket 30.

The center socket 24 is connected by wire 31 with a secondary coil 32 which is connected with the wire 33 which connects the primary coil 34 with a switch terminal 35. The primary coil 34 is connected with the ignition timer 21 which is grounded. The other terminal of the primary circuit switch is designated by numeral 36 and is connected with a battery 37 which is grounded. Each of the terminals 35 and 36 is riveted to a non-conducting plate 38 attached to each branch of a U-shaped bracket 39, the central portion of which is provided with an aperture for receiving a portion of the lock housing 40 shown in Fig. 5. The housing 40 is provided with a shoulder 41. An instrument board 'or other mounting bracket 42 is provided with an aperture for receiving a portion of the lock housing 40. A nut 43 cooperates with threaded end 44 of the housing 40 to clamp the same and the bracket 39 to the instrument board 42.

Each of the terminals 35 and 36 carries a resilient spring conductor 50 adapted to be engaged by a contact 51 provided on each end of a contact bolt 52 which is insulatingly supported by a switch controller or plunger 54 slidable within the lock housin 40. When the plunger 54 is in the position s own in Fig. 1, the primary circuit will be closed by connecting the contacts 50 by the heads 51 of the bolt 52. To open the switch the bolt 52 is pressed to the left against the action of a spring 55 which is located between a shoulder 56 provided by the housing 40 and a disc 57 bearing against one end of the plunger 54. As the plunger 54 is moved toward the left, a locking bolt 58 which has been urged by a spring 59 into a recess 60 in the housing '40 will be cammed out of the recess 60 due to engagement of its beveled surface 61 with the ed e 62 of the housing. When the plunger 54% as been moved into the position shown in Fig. 5 so as to move the bolt 52 into the osition 52 shown in Fig. 1, the bolt wil be maintained in circuit open position since the spring 59 will be released to move the plunger 58 into a recess 63 in the housing 40. In order to close the primary ignition switch the bolt 58 is withdrawn from the recess 63 by the turning of a key shaft 64 which can be turned onl by the proper key 65. The key shaft 64 as shown in Fig. 5 has a crank pin 66 which is received by notch 67 in the bolt 58. It is evident from Fig. 5 that the turning of the shaft 64 in a clockwise direction will cause the crank pin 66 to engage a shoulder 68 provided by the bolt 58, so that the bolt will move downwardly against the action of the spring 59. As soon as the bolt 58 has been retracted from the hole 63 the spring 55 will be released to move the plunger 54 toward the right into the switch-closing position shown in Fi 1.

This motion of the plunger 54 to close and open the ignition primary circuit is employed to operate a device for controlling the grounding of a center distributor sleeve 24 and to lock the distributor head 22 to the timer housing 20. The distributor head is provided as shown in Fig. 5 with a recess 70 for guiding a plunger 71 which is connected by a spring 72 with the sleeve 24. The head 22 is provided with a larger recess 73 for receiving a metal plunger 74 attached by a wire 75 to the disc will lock the primary ignition circuit switch 57. The plun er 74 slides through aligned a ertures in a racket 76; and a cover plate 7 for a bracket 78. The bracket 78 is provided with a recess 79 for receiving a spring 80 bearin at oneend against a shoulder 81 provided y the bracket 78 and against a disc 82 provided by the plunger 74. The wire 75 is protected within a hard metal flexible case or armor 83 having its ends attached respectively to the bracket 78 and the lock housing 40. The bracket 76 is attached by rivets 84 to the timer cup 20 and the plate 77 is attached by rivet 85 to the bracket 76. The bracket 78 is attached to the bracket 76 by rivets 86 as shown in Fi 2. The bracket 78 is shaped to provide sur aces 87 shown in Fig. 8 for guiding locking bolts 88 and 89 which are normally urged against the plunger 74 by the spring 90 located between the portions 91 and 92 respectively of the bolts 88 and 89 respectively. The cover 77 retains the automatic locking bolts 88 and 89. When assembled, the plate 77 and the bracket 78 provide a. cylindrical recess 93 for receiving the spring 90.

When the plunger 54 is in position shown in Fig. 1 to close the primary ignition circuit, the plunger 74 will be withdrawn entirely from the recess 73 in the distributor head 22 and will be out of contact with the plunger 71 therefore the ground connection with the center terminal of the distributor will be interrupted and the distributor head will be unlocked from the bracket 76 so that it may be removed from the timer housing 20. When the plunger 54 is moved toward the left into the position shown in Fig. 5 to open the primary i ition switch, the plunger 74 will be moved y the spring 80 into engagement with the plunger 71 so as to connect the distributor with ground. Thus, a key operated device in open position and-the secondary ignition circuit grounding switch in closed position. Although the primary switch should be bridged by other means the ignition apparatus will be inoperative as long as the ignition secondary is grounded. The distributor head cannot be removed to be replaced by one of conventional design since it is locked to the timer housing.

If the armor 83 and the wire 75 should be cut, the spring 80 will be released still further to move the plunger 74 toward the left so that an annular groove 100 provided by the plunger 74 will be in alignment with the automatic locking bolts 88 and 89. Whenthis occurs the spring 90 will be released to move the locking bolts into this recess against the portion 101 of the plunger 74 as shown in Fig. 7 Then it will be impossible to remove the distributor head from the timer cup without destroying the head. To prevent manipulation of the automatic locking bolts 88 and 89 the bracket 76 is provided with a ledge 102 which closes the lower end of the recess 93, and the distributor head 22 is shaped to cover the upper end of this recess as well as enclosing the upper part and sides of the bracket 76, the plate 77 and a part of the bracket 78.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Theft preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprising an ignition distributor head having an ignition secondary terminal, a metal support for the head, and key controlled means for connecting said distributor terminal with the support and for locking the head to the support. v 2. Theft preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprising an ignition distributor head having an ignition secondary terminal, a metal support for the head, a switch in the head for electrically connecting the head with the support to ground said secondary terminal, and key controlled means for closing the switch.

3. Theft preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprising an ignition distributor head having an ignition secondary terminal, a metal support for the head, a switch in the head for connecting said terminal with the support, and key controlled means for closing the switch, and for locking the head to the support.

4. Theft preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprising a switch for controlling anvignition primary circuit, a switch for grounding a distributor in the secondary circuit, and key controlled means for opening the primary switch and for simultaneously closing the grounding switch and vice versa, respectively.

5. Theft preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprising a distributor head, a metal support therefor, a switehrin the head for connecting an ignition secondary circuit terminal of the head with the support, means for locking the head to the support, key controlled means for operating the switch and head locking means including an actuating member remote from the head and connected by a rod with the switch and the locking means in the head, and means operable to permanently lock the head to the support and to permanently connect the distributor head terminal electrically with the support in case the rod is severed.

6. Theft. preventing apparatus for automotive vehicles comprislng, in combination,

with an ignition unit provided with a secondary circuit, means for grounding said secondary circuit, means for opening the primary circuit, and key controlled meansfor simultaneously operating both of said means.

7. In a key controlled ignition device providing a primary and a secondary circuit, the combination of, means for opening the primary circuit, means for grounding the secondary circuit, and key controlled means for securing both of said means in circuit open and grounded condition respectively.

8. In a key controlled ignition device providing a primary and a secondary circuit, the combination of, means for simultaneously opening and securing the primary circuit in open condition andthe secondary circuit in grounded condition.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HERMAN SCHWARZE. 

